Heidelberg have completed the perfect season in the 2023 Division 1 reserves competition after a resounding 50-point victory over Montmorency in the Grand Final at Preston City Oval.
Despite the determined Magpies outfit causing challenges at different stages of the match, the Tigers quickly found their familiar dominance and surged to a 13.16 (94) to 6.8 (44) win, which marked their first reserves premiership since 2016.
It also signalled an undefeated season for the club in the reserves campaign. Of their 20 matches this year, they only conceded more than 10 goals on one occasion and remarkably only trailed at the conclusion of three quarters once for the entire year.
Mitchell Kane and Mackenzie Hogg commanded the centre expertly, with the latter finishing with the best on ground medallion in a stellar display.
Meanwhile the scoreboard control was led by nine individual goalkickers, including Jordan Smith who kicked a game high three goals.
Michael Finn produced another impressive performance just days after he won his fourth Division 1 Reserves Best and Fairest.
Jaden Collins matched up well against Finn during in his time as the ruck, even rolling down forward to be Montmorency’s only multiple goal scorer for the match.
Lewis Franz and Nicolas Uzelac also shared this responsibility for portions, but as the game wore on, Heidelberg’s clearance work excelled.
The first quarter was a characteristic tussle of turnovers and high-pressure amidst the nerves of grand final day.
However, it was Heidelberg’s poise that held them strong, and they soon broke the deadlock with back-to-back goals in the opening term.
With a rising wave of momentum against them, the Magpies were relieved to see Jaden Collins’ 30 metre set-shot go through, whilst Heidelberg struggled with inaccuracies.
Approaching the 20-minute stage, Alexander Horner would find himself alone at the top of the goal square to assure his team only trailed by a four-point margin at the first break.
However, now with a favourable wind advantage, the Tigers would wrestle control back.
Joshua Daniel looked a dangerous forward option, whilst Kane Veliou inspired his side’s ascendency with precision kicking around the ground.
Montmorency fought courageously, but they couldn’t put any scores on the board. Their biggest opportunity, a shot that looked to be a certain goal, was touched on the line, leaving Heidelberg’s three second term goals unanswered.
It made those majors from Josh Daniel, Jordan Smith and Jake Van Der Veekens all the more impactful, with the Tigers 25 points to the good at half time.
With the door still slightly ajar thanks to Heidelberg’s inaccurate kicking of 5.9 to half-time, Montmorency looked to uplift themselves after Lachlan Batchelor goaled from 40-metres.
However, it would be short-lived as back-to-back goals within a minute from Jordan Smith ripped momentum back into the minor premiers’ hands. Soon after, a Joshua Daniel set-shot near the large contingent of Heidelberg fans on the boundary prompted raucous applause.
The Magpies still battled, but as Daniel Clarke snapped a kick onto the goal line, only for it to bounce directly backwards, it seemed to be the Tigers day.
Equipped with a 39-point buffer and a favourable wind advantage, Heidelberg could soak up the celebratory mood in the final term.
They sustained their appetite for goals by kicking three in the final quarter, including fan favourite Michael Finn who scored directly in front of a growing Heidelberg fanbase behind the posts.
Their flawless season now assured with a 50-point triumph, the final siren solidified Heidelberg’s place as one of the most dominant Division 1 reserves teams in NFNL history.
